EP2493517B1 - Dispensers and functional operation and timing control improvements for dispensers - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
• The present disclosure relates to dispensers for discharging volatile materials from a container and methods for operating same.
2. Description of the Background of the Invention
• Diffusion devices or dispensers are used to dispense volatile materials, such as perfumes, deodorizers, insecticides, insect repellants, and the like. Many such devices are passive diffusion devices that require only ambient air flow to dispense the volatile material, while other devices are active diffusion devices. Active diffusion devices are found in a variety of forms, some include fans and/or heaters to aid in the dispersal of volatile materials, others actuate a valve stem of an aerosol container to dispense a volatile material contained therein, still others utilize an ultrasonic transducer to break up a liquid volatile material into droplets that are ejected from the device, and yet others include any combination of the above or any other known type of active diffusion device. Various examples of such devices can be found in Helf et al. published U.S. Patent applicationUS 2007/0235555, Beland et al. published U.S. Patent applicationUS 2008 / 0277411, Helf et al. published U.S. Patent applicationUS 2009 / 0045218, Helf et al. published U.S. Patent applicationUS 2009/0045219, Helf et al. published U.S. Patent applicationUS 2009/0045220, Helf et al. published U.S. Patent applicationUS 2008/0290120, Sipinski et al. published U.S. Patent applicationUS 2009/0254770, Sipinski et al. published U.S. Patent applicationUS 2009 / 0309717,Pedrotti et al. U.S. Patent No. 6,917,754, and SchwarzU.S. Patent No. 7,540,473. Further, some active diffusion devices include a sensor to detect motion or light in a space, wherein such devices dispense a volatile material in response to signals from the sensor.
• Early diffusion devices that included sensors were developed to operate according to predefined operating methodologies for use in such places as restrooms to dispense perfumes or deodorizers to combat malodors. However, when a need arose for diffusion devices to be used in other environments, e.g., a living room, an office space, a factory floor, an outdoor area, etc., prior art devices that were developed for use in restrooms were found to lack the versatility necessary to be utilized in new environments. Consequently, a need has arisen for dispensers to provide an improved user experience and to enable a user to control the diffusion of a fragrance in different environments. The present disclosure relates to solutions to address such needs. An example of a known dispenser is shown inUS 2007/0199952. This document shows a dispenser with an operating schedule, whereby when power is applied there is first of all a startup delay period, followed by a spray, followed by a sleep period. During the sleep period the device is not sensitive to motion. After the end of the sleep period the device becomes motion-sensitive and sprays on detection of motion. A further sleep period follows each spray.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In a first aspect the invention provides a method of operating a dispensing unit in accordance with claim 1 below. Optional features of this aspect are set out in claims 2-3 below. In a second aspect the invention provides a dispensing unit in accordance with claim 4 below. Optional feature of this aspect are set out in claim 5-7 below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a dispenser;
• FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a dispenser according to another embodiment;
• FIG. 3 is a flowchart that illustrates programming that may be executed by the dispensers ofFIGS. 1 and/or 2;
• FIG. 4 is a flowchart that illustrates another embodiment of the programming ofFIG. 3, including further details of a startup procedure;
• FIG. 5 is a flowchart that illustrates programming that may be executed during an active mode procedure of the dispensers ofFIGS. 1 and/or 2;
• FIG. 6 is a flowchart that illustrates another embodiment of the active mode procedure ofFIG. 5;
• FIG. 7 is a flowchart that illustrates a further embodiment of the active mode procedure ofFIG. 5; and
• FIG. 8 is a flowchart that illustrates yet another embodiment of the active mode procedure ofFIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 illustrates adevice 20 that includes amicroprocessor 22, apower source 24, amotor 26, asensor 28, one ormore input devices 30 such as switches, dials, keypads, pushbuttons, etc., and alight source 32, e.g., a light emitting diode ("LED"). Thepower source 24 supplies power to themicroprocessor 22 and to the other components, wherein themicroprocessor 22 is further coupled to the other components and executes programming to control the operation thereof. In one embodiment, themicroprocessor 22 may be an ATtinyl3V based microcontroller, such as those manufactured by Atmel Corporation, of 2325 Orchard Parkway, San Jose, CA 95131. However, it is contemplated that any type of microcontroller known to those of skill in the art may be used with the present embodiments.
• FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of thedevice 20 ofFIG. 1 implemented as adispenser 40 for dispensing the contents of anaerosol container 42. Thedispenser 40 may be one of the devices described in Carpenter et al. published U.S. Patent ApplicationUS2007/0199952. Thedispenser 40 includes ahousing 44 that is adapted to receive theaerosol container 42 andbatteries 46. In addition, thedispenser 40 includes aselector switch 30a, apushbutton 30b, and anactuator arm 52. Thedispenser 40 also includes circuitry, themicroprocessor 22, themotor 26, theLED 32, and thesensor 28, which are provided within thehousing 44 and shown generally inFIG. 1.
• Themicroprocessor 22 controls themotor 26 during a spray operation to actuate theactuator arm 52, which depresses avalve stem 54 of theaerosol container 42 to dispense the contents therefrom. Themicroprocessor 22 includes programming to initiate a spray operation in response to a signal generated by theswitch 30a, thepushbutton 30b, a timer, or thesensor 28. The timer can be implemented in themicroprocessor 22 or as a separate component. For example, in one embodiment, themicroprocessor 22 includes programming to control thedispenser 40 in a timed automatic actuation mode, wherein thedispenser 40 performs spray operations at specified time intervals, e.g., every 30 minutes. Alternatively, or in conjunction with the previous embodiment, themicroprocessor 22 is programmed to perform a spray operation in response to a signal from thesensor 28, theselector switch 30a, and/or thepushbutton 30b.
• For purposes of illustration only, one particular embodiment of the operation of thedispenser 40 will be described with particularity. Turning again toFIG. 2, in the present embodiment theselector switch 30a is used to turn thedispenser 40 on and off and to select between various operating modes, which may include a timed mode, a sensing mode, a combined timed and sensing mode, and other user selectable or pre-programmed functional modes and timing sequences. TheLED 32 is energized continuously or is energized and deenergized to flash and indicate that thedispenser 40 is on and operating normally and/or to provide a warning that thedispenser 40 is about to perform a spray operation. Thepushbutton 30b is provided for manual actuation of theaerosol container 42, wherein thepushbutton 30b may be depressed by a user to cause a spraying operation at any time, except when thedispenser 40 is off. The pushbutton 30b allows the user to manually override the automatic actuation of thedevice 40. Thesensor 28 in the present embodiment is a photocell light sensor, which may be used to detect motion. However, any other type of motion detector may be utilized, e.g., a passive infrared or pyroelectric motion sensor, an infrared reflective motion sensor, an ultrasonic motion sensor, or a radar or microwave radio motion sensor. Further, thesensor 28 can be replaced or used in combination with any other type of known sensor, e.g., a heat sensor or an odor sensor.
• Referring toFIG. 3, the programming implemented by themicroprocessor 22 to control thedispenser 40 initiates at a reset/start-up block 60 when theselector switch 30a is toggled into an on position or, if theselector switch 30a is not provided, whennew batteries 46 are inserted into thedevice 40. After theblock 60, control passes toblock 62 and a startup procedure is performed, following which control passes directly to ablock 64 without any lockout period therebetween and an active mode procedure is performed, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
• FIG. 4 illustrates programming that provides further details according to one embodiment of thestartup procedure 62, wherein control begins at ablock 70 to provide an indication that thedispenser 40 is on, e.g., by energizing theLED 32. Next, control passes to adelay block 72 and control pauses for a predetermined period of time, e.g., about five seconds. Following thedelay block 72, control passes to ablock 74 and a warning or notice is issued that an activation sequence is imminent. In the present embodiment, the warning is a flashing or flickering of theLED 32, wherein themicroprocessor 22 energizes and deenergizes theLED 32 two or more times within a short period of time, e.g., within three seconds. However, in other embodiments, the warning can be any combination of a visual, audible, tactile, olfactory, or any other warning that would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Following theblock 74, the programming performs an activation sequence. In the present embodiment, the activation sequence is a spray operation that includesblocks 76, 78, and 80. More specifically, the spray operation begins at theblock 76 where themotor 26 is energized to move theactuator arm 52 downwardly to depress thevalve stem 54 of theaerosol container 42 into an open position. Themotor 26 is deenergized inblock 78. Thereafter, themotor 26 is energized to move theactuator arm 52 in the opposite direction inblock 80 to assist thevalve stem 54 in moving to a closed and non-depressed position. In one embodiment, themotor 26 is energized during theblock 76 for about 1 second, themotor 26 is deenergized during theblock 78 for about 150 milliseconds, and themotor 26 is energized during theblock 80 for about 400 milliseconds. Modifications to the activation sequence of the present embodiment can include any sequence of the same or different steps, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
• Referring again to thedelay block 72, a relatively short delay of about five seconds or less is provided before the activation warning and the activation sequence are performed. In this embodiment, the short delay allows a user to quickly determine that thedispenser 40 is functioning properly, e.g., that all of the components are properly coupled together and functioning and that the contents of thecontainer 42 are not depleted. Consequently, an improved user interaction with thedispenser 40 can be provided over other dispensers that require a user to wait for a longer period before being able to confirm the proper functioning of the dispenser.
• FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of programming executed during theactive mode procedure 64. At ablock 90 thedispenser 40 turns on theLED 32 to provide an indication that thedispenser 40 is in the active mode. Thereafter, control passes to adecision block 92 and the programming activates thesensor 28 to determine if motion is detected. If motion is not detected, control passes back to theblock 90 and subsequently proceeds again to theblock 92. However, if motion is detected, control passes to ablock 94 to perform an activation sequence, which may be the same or different from the activation sequence described above in relation toFIG. 4. After the activation sequence is performed, control passes to ablock 96 to perform a user selectable or pre-programmed transition procedure before control loops back to theblock 90.
• FIGS. 6-8 provide details of the transition procedure of theblock 96 ofFIG. 5. InFIG. 6, the transition procedure includesblocks 100 and 102, which provides for a lockout mode, wherein thesensor 28 is deactivated and the dispenser does not perform an activation sequence in response to the detection of motion. However, an activation sequence may still be performed if thepushbutton 30b is depressed. Thedecision block 102 determines if the time elapsed during the lockout mode has reached a certain lockout period X. If the lockout period X has elapsed, then control passes back to the blocks 90-94 to determine if an activation sequence should be performed in response to motion. If the lockout period X has not elapsed, then control loops back to the lockout mode of theblock 100. In one embodiment, a user can use an input device such as theswitch 30a to select the length of the lockout period X. For example, the user can select different lockout periods ranging from 5 min, 20 min, 30 min, 60 min, etc. for different sized rooms or user preferences. In a different embodiment, the lockout period may be a pre-programmed period.
• InFIG. 7, the transition procedure includes blocks 110-116. More specifically, at ablock 110 the control implements a lockout mode as described above. However, in the present embodiment, the control performs one or more automatic activation sequences during the lockout period. For example, thedecision block 112 determines if the elapsed time during the lockout mode is equal to a time X and, if so, control passes to ablock 114 to perform an activation sequence. After theblock 114, control passes back to theblock 110 and subsequently to theblock 112. If theblock 112 determines that the elapsed time is not equal to X, control passes to theblock 116, which determines if the elapsed time is equal to Y, which in the present embodiment represents the total lockout period. If the elapsed time has not reached the total lockout period Y, then control passes back to theblock 110, while if the lockout period Y has elapsed then control passes back to theblock 90. In one embodiment, the user can use an input device such as theswitch 30a to select the length of the total lockout period, the number of automatic activation sequences during the lockout period, and the times at which the automatic activation sequence(s) are performed. In one example, the user selects a 30 min lockout period and a single automatic activation sequence at 15 min into the lockout period. In another example, the user selects a 60 min lockout period and a first automatic activation sequence at 20 min and a second automatic activation sequence at 40 min into the lockout period. In yet a further example, the user selects a 40 min lockout period and a single activation sequence at 10 min into the lockout period. In a different embodiment, one or more of the total lockout periods, the number of automatic activation sequences, and the times at which the automatic activation sequences are performed may be pre-programmed.
• InFIG. 8, the transition procedure includes blocks 130-138. More specifically, at theblock 92 if motion is not detected, then control passes back to theblock 90, as discussed above. However, if motion is detected at theblock 92, then control passes to ablock 130, which determines how many times that motion has been detected and an activation or spray sequence performed. If motion has been detected and an activation sequence performed X times, then control passes to theblock 132 and another activation sequence is performed before control passes to a lockout mode of theblock 136 and thedecision block 138. Thedecision block 138 determines if the lockout period has expired, as described above. Referring back to theblock 130, if motion has not been detected and an activation sequence performed X times, then control passes to theblock 132 and an activation sequence is performed before control passes back to theblock 90. In the present embodiment, control does not execute a lockout mode until a second or subsequent motion detection/activation sequence is performed. The user can use an input device such as theswitch 30a to select the number of motion detection/activation sequences that are to be performed before entering the lockout mode. For example, the user can set theswitch 30a so that control executes the lockout mode only after a second, third, fourth, etc. motion detection/activation sequence is performed. In other embodiments, the number of motion detection/activation sequences that are to be performed before entering the lockout mode is preprogrammed.
• In the embodiments described in relation toFIGS. 3-8, the programming performs the active mode after the startup procedure without any lockout period therebetween, which allows the user to execute the sensor based operation of the active mode without waiting for a lockout period to expire. Consequently, a user can confirm the proper operation of the sensor quickly upon startup of the dispenser. For example, after the startup procedure is performed, the user can immediately test the sensor by waving their hand in front of the sensor to trigger an activation sequence. Further, the user can immediately test the sensitivity of the sensor by waving their hand at different distances from the sensor and/or at different speeds/amplitudes. As a result, the user can quickly and conveniently determine a preferred placement of the dispenser in a room.
• Various modifications can be made to the above embodiments. For example, the user can use theswitch 30a to adjust the number of activation sequences that are performed each time motion is sensed, e.g., between one, two, or three activations each time motion is detected. According to another example, the user can use theswitch 30a to adjust a lockout period between the startup procedure and the active mode between zero and twenty minutes, for example. Further, other embodiments of the disclosure including all the possible different and various combinations of the individual features of each of the foregoing described embodiments are specifically included herein.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
• The dispenser described herein advantageously allows for the contents of a container to be sprayed into the atmosphere in a manner that can be adjusted by a user to accommodate different room conditions, environmental conditions, and personal preferences.
• Numerous modifications to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention and to teach the best mode of carrying out same.

Claims (7)

1. A method of operating a dispensing unit for discharging volatile materials from a container to the atmosphere, comprising the steps of:

   applying a power source (30a, 46) to the dispensing unit, that includes the container;

   performing a startup procedure (62) in response to applying the power source (30a, 46), wherein the startup procedure (62) ends with the performance of an activation sequence (76, 78, 80) that discharges a fluid from the container (142);

   performing an active mode procedure (64) after the startup procedure (62), wherein the active mode procedure includes:

   activating a motion sensor (28) associated with the dispensing unit, and

   counting the number of times an activation sequence has been performed during said active mode; and

   when the motion sensor detects motion and the said count does not exceed a threshold number of times, performing an activation sequence (138) that discharges fluid from the container; and

   when the motion sensor detects motion and said count equals the threshold number of times, performing an activation sequence (132) then entering a lockout mode (134) for a pre-determined time;

   repeating the active mode.
2. The method of claim 1, further including setting the threshold number of times by a user operable switch (30a) such that the threshold is reached after one of a second, third and fourth activation sequence (138) in the respective active mode.
3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of performing the startup procedure (62) further includes the steps of a) providing an indication that the dispensing unit is functioning properly, b) providing a delay that lasts about five seconds, c) providing an indication that the activation sequence (76, 78, 80) is about to be performed, and d) performing the activation sequence (76, 78, 80).
4. A dispensing unit (40) for dispensing volatile materials from a container to the atmosphere, comprising:

   a housing (44) adapted to receive the container (42) and a power source; and

   a motion sensor (28), an input device (30a, 30b), and a controller (22) associated with the housing (44), wherein the controller (22) is configured to perform a startup procedure in response to applying the power source to the controller (22), wherein the startup procedure ends with the performance of an activation sequence (76, 78, 80) that discharges a fluid from the container (142);

   wherein the controller (22) is further configured to perform an active mode procedure (64) after the startup procedure (62), wherein an active mode procedure includes:

   activating a motion sensor (28) associated with the dispensing unit, and

   counting the number of times an activation sequence has been performed during said active mode; and

   when the motion sensor detects motion and the said count does not exceed a threshold number of times, performing an activation sequence (138) that discharges fluid from the container; and

   when the motion sensor detects motion and said count equals the threshold number of times, performing an activation sequence (132) then entering a lockout mode (134) for a pre-determined time; and

   wherein the controller (22) is further configured to repeat the active mode procedure (64).
5. The dispensing unit of claim 4, further including a user operable switch (30a) for setting the threshold number of times.
6. The dispensing unit of claim 5, where the controller (22) is configured to set the threshold number of times to two, three, or four, depending on the setting of the switch (30a).
7. The dispensing unit of claim 4, 5, or 6, wherein the controller (22) is further configured such that the startup procedure (62) further includes providing an indication that the dispensing unit (40) is functioning properly, providing a delay of about five seconds, providing an indication that the activation sequence (76, 78, 80) is about to be performed, and performing the activation sequence (76, 78, 80).

Images